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Touching Our Beginning

In order to understand our present, we need to know our past...beyond our American birth...to the point of origin of our ancestors. The enormity of Portuguese customs and traditions lost in subsequent generations born in Hawaii was obvious from the moment we stepped off the plane in the Azores. In a land of easy, laid back, simple lifestyles where faith in God is the priority, I found myself to be far more American in culture than Portuguese. Cobblestone roadways, cut and laid one stone at a time, takes a decade to complete. A simple stone, wood and stucco covered home...two years. Every town, every village has its own church or chapel in which to worship and pray. These village churches, no matter how small, or how plain and unassuming they appear on the outside, are grandly embellished works of art within. The well maintained turn of the century architecture on city streets takes you back into another time. The gardens and parks within the cities are spectacular splashes of brightly colored flower beds and meandering paths. Most of our Portuguese ancestors on Maui came from Madeira and the Azores Islands which were remote outposts of a maritime empire. Portuguese sailing ships would stop at these islands to replenish supplies before journeying onward across the Atlantic Ocean and around continents. Madeira and Porto Santo are islands off of Africa. The Azores, sitting on the mid-Atlantic Ridge, consists of nine islands: (largest to smallest) Sao Miguel, Pico, Sao Jorge, Terceira, Faial, Flores, Santa Maria, Graciosa, and Corvo. When famine and poverty consumed this land, brave men and women decided to leave their homes and families to build a new life in Hawaii.

Like the Hawaiian islands, the Azores are also of volcanic origin. There are active sulfur beds, steaming geysers and hot springs on every island. Cottages and homes are made from cooled lava fashioned into building blocks. The soil is fertile and the landscape is delightfully dramatic...quite similar to our Hawaiian Islands. It is no wonder that our ancestors thought that the ship's captain had turned the ship around and taken them back to the Azores when in fact they were off the coast of Hawaii.

A few of the Maui Portuguese Cultural Club members seized the opportunity to travel together on a tour of the Azores Islands, Portugal. The group visited four of the nine islands: Faial, Pico, Terceira and Sao Miguel. Here they stand in front of a chapel of the Holy Spirit on the island of Terceira.

EASTER CELEBRATIONS IN PORTUGAL

Castelo de Vide – a region in the south of Portugal – On Holy Saturday the village shepherds bring in their flocks of sheep for the “Blessing of the Sheep” ceremony in town. And, after Mass on Saturday Evening, people gather in a procession ringing cow bells through the town in the Cortejo da Alleluia or “Procession of Alleluia”.Sardoal – In this town the “Fogareus” or night of bonfires is celebrated. Lights are switched off and the town is illuminated by thousands of penitents holding candles, lanterns and torches who have gathered in town. They then have a procession to church on Holy Saturday Eve.Braga – On Holy Thursday the town hosts the “Ecce Homo” procession. It is a re-enactment of the passion and crucifixion of Christ. On Good Friday, the town has a Burial Procession led by the Farricocos who are barefooted penitents in hooded tunics.Sapiacos – In Northern Portugal the people there recreate the way of the cross in their town stopping at “Stations” to sing and read the Stations of the Cross.Obidos – Residents hold a torchlight procession with statues carried on pallets to church on Holy Saturday.Sao Bras de Alportiel – This is a town 10 miles inland of the Algarve Coast. Streets are filled with flowers for the procession of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.Monchique - Located in the mountains near the Algarve, residents decorate the facadeof their homes with colorful quilts and shawls on windows and balconies during Holy Week.Madeira – After the reenactment of the passion on Good Friday, the village priests of each parish on Madeira, are accompanied by two little girls known as “Saloais”. There is a procession to put the Body of Christ in the tomb and the little girls sing songs to the Holy Spirit along the way dressed in traditional costume. On Easter Sunday, the priest, holding the Monstrance up high, walks on a path of flowers to the Church with the resurrected Christ. 4 men hold a canopy over each priest as they walk along the flower path. Maui Portuguese Cultural Club

Displaying items from Portugal at our Festa

Our 2012 Portuguese Festa held at Kepaniwai Park, Iao Valley, had our members bringing out artifacts and collections that they brought back from trips to Portugal. Here is the collection of Lorraine Tavares Evans. Portuguese ceramic, embroidered hats, literature and story books, passion fruit liquer (Maracuja), dolls, fashion jewelry and more decorates her table. Lorraine is the Vice President of the Maui Portuguese Cultural Club.